Tony Conigliaro

Infobox MLB retired
name=Tony Conigliaro
position=Outfielder


bgcolor1=#0d2b56
bgcolor2=#ba313c
textcolor1=white
textcolor2=white
bats=Right
throws=Right
birthdate=birth date|1945|1|7
Revere, Massachusetts
deathdate=death date and age|1990|2|24|1945|1|7
Salem, Massachusetts
debutdate=April 16
debutyear=by|1964
debutteam=Boston Red Sox
finaldate=June 12
finalyear=by|1975
finalteam=Boston Red Sox
stat1label=Batting average
stat1value=.264
stat2label=Home runs
stat2value=166
stat3label=Runs batted in
stat3value=516
teams=
* Boston Red Sox (by|1964-by|1967, by|1969-by|1970, by|1975)
* California Angels (by|1971)
highlights=
* All-Star selection (1967)
* Led AL in home runs in 1965 with 32 Anthony Richard Conigliaro (January 7, 1945 - February 24, 1990), nicknamed "Tony C" and "Conig", [ [http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,900769,00.html Time Magazine, 1969, Conig's Comeback] ] [ [http://www.bostondirtdogs.com/2004/Tony_C_3.8.04.htm "Tony Conigliaro Forty Years Later: A Remembrance" By Shaun L. Kelly] ] was a Major League Baseball outfielder and right-handed batter who played for the Boston Red Sox (1964-67, 1969-1970, 1975) and California Angels (1971). He was born in Revere, Massachusetts and was a 1962 graduate of St. Mary's High School (Lynn, Massachusetts).

Baseball career

In his 1964 rookie season, Conigliaro batted .290 with 24 home runs and 52 RBI in 111 games, but broke his arm and his toes in August. Tony Oliva won American League Rookie of the Year honors.

In his 1965 sophomore season, Conigliaro led the league in home runs (32). He was selected for the All-Star Game in 1967. In that season, at age 22, he became the youngest player to reach a career total of 100 home runs. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=tony conigliaro | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.fenwayfanatics.com/redsox/legend/tony_conigliaro/ | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-03-24 | language = ]

On August 18, 1967, the Red Sox were playing the California Angels at Fenway Park. Conigliaro, batting against Jack Hamilton, was hit by a pitch on his left cheekbone, and was carried off the field on a stretcher. He sustained a broken cheekbone and severe damage to his left retina. The batting helmet he was wearing did not have the protective ear-flap that has since become standard.

A year and a half later, Conigliaro made a remarkable return, hitting 20 homers with 82 RBI in 141 games, earning Comeback Player of the Year honors. In 1970, he reached career-high numbers in HRs (36) and RBI (116). After a stint with the Angels in 1971, he returned to the Red Sox briefly in 1975, but was forced to retire because his eyesight had been permanently damaged.

Conigliaro batted .267 with 162 home runs and 501 RBI during his 802-game Red Sox career. With the Angels, he hit .222, 4, 15, in 74 games. He holds the MLB record for most home runs (25) hit by a teenage player.

Final years

On January 3, 1982 Conigliaro, in Boston to interview for a broadcasting position, suffered a heart attack while being driven to the airport by his brother Billy. Shortly thereafter, he suffered a stroke and lapsed into a coma. Conigliaro remained in basically a vegetative state until his death more than 8 years later. In February, 1990 he died in Salem, Massachusetts at the age of 45. In commemoration, the Red Sox wore black armbands that season.

Currently, the Tony Conigliaro Award is given annually to the player who best overcomes an obstacle and continues to thrive through the adversity.

Conigliaro's Corner

For the start of the 2007 season, Red Sox ownership added a new 200-seat bleacher section on the right field roof, providing an additional 16,000 available tickets for the season. It was named "Conigliaro's Corner" in honor of Tony Conigliaro. The seats are being marketed specifically towards families. As of May 2007, the section is reserved for Red Sox Nation members on Saturdays and Red Sox Kid Nation members on Sundays.cite web | url=http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2826069 | title=Conigliaro's Corner' addition part of Fenway changes | author=Associated Press | publisher=ESPN | date=2007-04-04]

Trivia

In the film "Fever Pitch", Ben Wrightman (Jimmy Fallon) and his friends attempt to explain the Curse of the Bambino to his new girlfriend, Lindsay Meeks (Drew Barrymore). Al Waterman (Jack Kehler) begins the litany, telling her that "Tony C, best young ballplayer ever" was a superstar at 22, got beaned, and was "finished at 26." Wrightman also has a framed issue of Conigliaro's famous Sports Illustrated cover in his bed room.

After getting beaned, Jose Tartabull was the pinch runner, father of big leaguer Danny Tartabull.

Conigliaro's alma mater, St. Mary's (in Lynn, MA) recently renovated their campus. The new gymnasium has been named in his honor.

Conigliaro is interred in Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts. [ [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10341 Find A Grave, Anthony "Tony C" Conigliaro] ]

Bibliography

*"Seeing It Through", Macmillan, 1970. (With Jack Zanger.)

ee also

* Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
*Top 500 home run hitters of all time
* List of Major League Baseball home run champions

References

External links

*Tony Conigliaro at:
** [http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/C/Conigliaro_Tony.stm Baseball Library]
** [http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/conigto01.shtml Baseball Reference]
* [http://webpages.charter.net/joekuras/tonyc.htm "Tony C."] by David Nevard
* [http://tonyconigliaro.googlepages.com/ Tony Conigliaro.Com]